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The sequenced genome of the brittle star revealed unique gene arrangements and provides insights into ancient genes involved in limb regeneration. Originally published at The Scientist by Sneha Khedkar, on Nov 22, 2024 As mist lingers over a Swedish fjord lined with towering, forested cliffs, a group of scientists collect mud from the bottom of the turquoise-colored waters . They’re after brittle stars —marine animals with long, slender, serpent-like arms—to peek into the genes that give them distinct characteristics, including the power of regeneration .  ABOVE: Scientists have sequenced the genome of the brittle star Amphiura filiformis . Fredrik Pleijel (University of Gothenburg) Brittle stars belong to the phylum Echinodermata, which includes sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and sea lilies. While the genomes of these other echinoderm classes have been characterized, Ferdinand Marlétaz , an evolutionary biologist at University College London , noted,...

Originally published by Keck School of Medicine of USC at phys.org on November 19, 2024 A circular field of cells shows a gradient of patterns, with green spots decreasing in size as cell density increases. Credit: Morsut Lab/USC Stem Cell Genes aren't the sole driver instructing cells to build multicellular structures, tissues, and organs . In a p aper published in Nature Communications , USC Stem Cell scientist Leonardo Morsut and Caltech computational biologist Matt Thomson characterize the influence of another important developmental driver : cell density , or how loosely or tightly cells are packed into a given space. In both computational models and laboratory experiments , the team of scientists used cell density as an effective tool for controlling how mouse cells pattern themselves into complex structures . "This paper represents progress towards our big picture goal of engineering synthetic tissues ," said Morsut, an assistant professor of stem cell b...